Methods for the prevention or treatment of vascular hemorrhaging and Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Methods for preventing or treating vascular hemorrhaging such as that incident to thrombolytic therapy, or characteristic of Alzheimer's and related diseases are provided. Such methods provide improved thrombolytic therapy to individuals who receive such therapy, and permit the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, that are characterized by the deposition of amyloid deposits.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for diagnosing the presence of β-amyloid peptide in an individual, which comprises administering to said individual a labeled agent that specifically binds to β-amyloid peptide, in an amount sufficient to permit the detection of any of said β-amyloid peptide that binds to said agent, wherein said agent is a tissue plasminogen activator analog that binds β-amyloid peptide or binds fibrils containing β-amyloid peptide, but which does not bind fibrin. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said label is radioactive or paramagnetic. 
     
     
       3. A method for diagnosing the presence of β-amyloid peptide in an individual which comprises incubating material obtained from said individual with a labeled agent that specifically binds to β-amyloid peptide, in an amount sufficient to permit the detection of any said β-amyloid peptide that binds to said agent, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of (1) tissue plasminogen activator; and (2) a tissue plasminogen activator analog that binds β-amyloid peptide, but does not bind fibrin. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, wherein said label is radioactive, paramagnetic, enzymatic, fluorescent, or chemiluminescent. 
     
     
       5. A method for diagnosing the presence of β-amyloid peptide in an individual which comprises incubating material obtained from said individual with tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen and a plasmin substrate, and determining the extent to which β-amyloid component of said material, if present, stimulates said tissue plasminogen activator to convert said plasminogen to plasmin, wherein said determination is accomplished by measuring either the change in concentration of said plasmin substrate, or the change in concentration of a product of reaction between said plasmin and said plasmin substrate.